All About Acne and Blemish Prone Skin

How to care for acne-prone skin and treat everything from blackheads and breakouts to blemishes

From blackheads and the occasional blemish to unsightly and painful acne, breakouts are never fun. And sadly, these skin concerns are not confined to puberty as adult acne is an increasingly common complaint.

Acne is a broad term that includes pimples, blackheads, whiteheads, and more severe cystic bumps. While there are a slew of causes behind breakouts, including hormonal changes, genetics, lifestyle factors like diet and stress, and even skincare products, essentially, pimples are the result of a combination of sebum (the natural oil our skin produces) and bacteria.

So, what is the best way to achieve clearer, healthier skin and banish breakouts for good?

Read on for our guide to caring for acne and blemish-prone skin.

What is Acne?

Acne is an inflammatory disorder of the skin that occurs when hair follicles become plugged with oil and dead skin cells. In healthy skin, the sebaceous glands make sebum that empties onto the skin surface through the pore, which is an opening in the follicle. Acne is the result of hair, sebum, and keratinocytes sticking together inside the pore, preventing the keratinocytes from shedding and the sebum from reaching the surface of the skin.

What causes Blemishes and Acne?

The underlying causes of acne are multiple and include both hormonal fluctuations and genetics (in other words, you may be more likely to get acne if your parents had acne), but there are also external triggers such as skin, hair, and makeup products and sunscreen, and even laundry detergents, toothpaste, preservatives, and fragrances. Friction on the skin (think the straps on your bike helmet or face masks) can also play a role. Another factor to consider is lifestyle. Things like a poor diet, stress, and a lack of healthy habits can also exacerbate breakouts.

How to care for Acne and Blemish prone skin

When an untimely, ugly pimple pops up out of nowhere, the temptation to pick and squeeze or reach for harsh chemical treatments to dry up and clear your skin are the top two don’ts, according to our experts. Picking at blemishes will not only increase inflammation, leading to a longer-lasting pimple with more chance of scarring and hyperpigmentation, but will also introduce more bacteria into the skin, which could lead to infection.

Meanwhile, using harsh products that dry the skin can send a signal to the body to produce more oil while harsh scrubs can further exacerbate irritation and redness. While it is important to exfoliate the skin to prevent clogged pores and stimulate cell turnover, when dealing with acne, chemical exfoliants like Salicylic Acid are recommended as they encourage the shedding of dead skin cells and cell turnover with less irritation.

Read more about Salicylic Acid here.

What are the best treatments for Acne and Blemish prone skin?

When it comes to treatments, our Signature Laser Facial is a safe, non-invasive, and effective treatment for treating active acne and preventing future breakouts. The Signature Laser Facial can reduce pore size and sebum levels, reduce bacteria and inflammation, and accelerate the healing process.

Read more about our Signature Laser Facial here.

What is the best skincare routine for Acne and Blemish prone skin?

The first step when trying to tackle acne is to adopt a consistent skincare routine that targets the causes of this skin condition.

Cleanse twice a day upon waking and before bedtime. To further reduce the chance of a breakout, also wash your face after a sweaty activity or use micellar cleansing wipes. Avoid using a washcloth, as these can harbor bacteria. Instead, use clean fingertips to wash the face and apply any product.

Use an alcohol-free toner to balance the skin’s pH and support barrier function.

Use a moisturizer after cleansing. Healthy skin is hydrated skin. While it may seem counterintuitive, studies show that even acne-prone individuals will break out less if the skin is well hydrated, as dryness prompts the skin to produce more oil, which can lead to clogged pores and further acne.

Wear broad-spectrum sunscreen every day. Regardless of skin type, everyone, including teens, should be wearing sunscreen as the last step of their skincare routine to protect the skin from sun damage and the risk of skin cancer.

Do not pick at pimples. This will not only spread bacteria to other areas on the face, but also cause hyperpigmentation and scarring. Dermatologists recommend hydrocolloid pimple patches to absorb excess oil and impurities from pimples while creating a protective barrier to keep bacteria out.

Change your pillowcase regularly. If you have oily or acne-prone skin, change your pillowcase every three to four days, as oil, sebum, and bacteria can build up on the fabric. Avoid using fabric softener or dryer sheets when laundering your bedding as these products may contain chemicals and fragrance that can cause irritation and inflammation, potentially worsening acne flare-ups, and also leaving behind a waxy residue on fabric that can clog pores.

Discover our line of dermatologist-approved skincare here.

Doctor's Note

Keep your skincare routine simple and consistent. Mixing too many active ingredients may only further irritate acne-prone skin. When selecting skincare products look for the following:

Non-comedogenic ingredients

Beta-Hydroxy Acids (Salicylic Acid)

Alpha-Hydroxy Acids (Glycolic Acid)

Retinoids (Vitamin A)

Sulfur under 10%

Benzoyl Peroxide

And avoid the following:

Coconut Oil

Alcohol, Methanol, Isopropyl Alcohol and Benzoyl Alcohol

Fragrance

Mineral Oil

Silicones, Sulfates, Parabens, and Phthalates